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HERE IT IS! THE EVENT OF THE SEASON
-:.'. . ■ . ■ : Sal
Edmonds City Park, Edmonds, Washington, Labor Day, September 8? 1914
WAR IS HELL! PROTEST AGAINST BOTH
THE WASHINGTON SOCIALIST
5c per copy, $1.00 per year.
MUCH ENTHUSIASM SHOWN
AT MEETING SUNDAY
EVENING.
Commissioner Saiter Given Free Hand
to Make Good.
AN 'ADVISORY COMMITTEE" IS
VOTED DOWN.
An enthusiastic gathering of Ev
erett Socialists last Sunday evening
voted unanimously to give Comrade
Saiter a free hand in his work as com
missioner of public works. A motion
to elect an "advisory committee" was
voted down. "Give Saiter a chance
to make good," in accordance with our
city platform, and in harmony with |
the fundamental principles of interna
tional Socialism, this was the senti
ment of all red card members present.
As a matter of course, Comrade
Saiter will consult with experts in the
party along any line of technical work,
just as any other snesible man would.
In matters of doubt on very import
ant matters, Comrade Saiter would
ask for a mass meeting of all red card
members of the party for general dis
cussion of vital issues. All such meet
ings, if any should be called, would be
advertised in the city press and all
citizens invited to attend.
We will leave star chamber methods
to those who do not care to deal open-^
ly on all public matters. The Social
ists have never held a single closed
meeting. %
SUCCESS IN EVERETT WILL
ACT AS STIMULANT IN
WHOLE STATE.
The election of a radical Socialist
to so important a position as commis
sioner of public works, in a city of
the first class, such as Everett, will
undoubtedly act as a Btimulant
throughout the whole state of, Wash
ington, urging all fighters in the great
cause on to still more strenuous ef
forts. Beneficial results will, of
course, be most apparent in Snohom
ish county, but must reach every nook
and corner of the whole state, and j
even throughout the entire United j
States.
NOTICE!
DO YOU LIKE WATERMELON?
If you do, be at Socialist patty head
quarters next Sunday evening, August
28. There will be an abundance of 1
them. We are to have a real "get to
. r" time on the Bt n ngth of hav
ing put a commissioner Into the city
hall. Isn't Ihat worth Ming?
There will be brief talks ami n
in short, a. good time in general. Come
and bring your friends. Everybody
welcome.
While some say the Wilson admin
istration is responsible for the Claflin
failure, others say it was caused by
women's non-use of petticoats. So, if
it wasn't the Democrats, it was the
women.—Springfield Republican,
WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOUR CHAINS. YOU HAVE A WORLD TO WIN
WHY EUROPE FIGHTS.
Ernest Untennann.
The daily papers sit full of more or
loss truthful war news. But not one
of them has published a comprehensive
story of tho fundamental cause for
Kurope's war madness.
H' re and there, scattered through
the nauseating mass of clumsily col- |
ored war dispatches, we find reports
to the effect that Russia, England,
Belgium and France blame Germany
and Austria for violating some an-1
, clent treaties, and that Germany and |
Austria prefer the same charges
atrainst the other countries. No doubt
-these mutual charges are true all
around.
The present European war is the
legitimate child of the diseased status ;
!quo in the Balkan peninsula. This dis
turbed status has for its true parent
the present business system.
The diplomats of Europe, for a cn
tury,. have attempted the impossible.
They have persuaded themselves that
they can develop their own national j
power on the fields of industry and |
politics,, and at the same time stifle a ]
similar development of the lesser na- !
tions. But human development all
over this globe is organically inter
related. The attempt to foster growth
I in one part and to choke it in another
cannot have any other result but lin- |
geiing conflicts and open wars.
Servia is the spark that started the
I present conflagration. After the war
iof the Balkan allies against Turkey,
followed by war among themselves, all
the little Balkan states secured a di
rect outlet to the sea for their indus
| trial and agricultural products, with
the exception of Servia. It remained
wedged in between hostile nations. Its !
staple products (hogs, grain and '
prunes) could not reach the world mar
ket without first paying toll to some
foreign nation. The way to the north
' across the Danube and over the Austria-
Hungarian railroads was rendered un
profitable by a heavy protective tariff
for the benefit of the Austrian nobil
ity. The waterway down the Danube
to the Black Sea could be closed by
Russia and Roumanla. The southern
passage led over Turkish railroads to '.
Salonika and the Aegean sea and was
taken by Bulgaria. If Servia could
have occupied a part of Albania, it :
would at least have reached the Adri
atic sea on its own territory. But
this road was Immediately blocked by
Italy and Austria. In order to reach
the Adria, Servian goods must pass
over the rough and steep mountain
roads of Montenegro, a very tedious
am) unprofitable undertaking.
Present War a Struggle for Economic
Power.
It was either choke or fight tor Ser
bia, ami she chose to choke fighting
rather than unresisting.
Fight was indeed the more promls
a lt( math c for hi r, becau n a
fight of Austria against Servia means
a war of Austria against Russia. The
dream of Russia has been and still is
the capture of the straits of the Dar
dam lies from Turkey, in order to kei p
this passage out of the Black sea open
for Russian commerce to the Medtter
■ ranean. A victory of Austria over
i < !ont Inued on Page Three, i
EVERETT, WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, l!ti 1. *
Attitude of the Socialist Party on
Municipal Affairs
Prom our press and platform we have assured the voters of Everett that we stood for hon
esty and efficiency in the administration of public affairs. We showed from a wide source of in
formation that Socialists in city government have bettered conditions of labor and the finances
of the cities under their influence and control. Also that Socialists have furthered the cause of
education, public recreation and amusement. The best possible service has been secured from
• public service corporations, and such steps as the law allowed we're taken leading toward
public ownership of all public utilities.
As a means to secure what we have promised, the Socialist party of Everett has unanimously
endorsed the plan below, as submitted to it by their representative in the council 'Commissioner
J. M. Saiter.
The Socialist commissioner will work in harmony with his two associates in office in so far
as they approve of the following guiding principles of municipal government:
That the very best talent be secured for the various departments. That men who approve
of municipal ownership, and who are imbued with a genuine civic .consciousness, and high ideals
of social service, will lie preferred .'is city employes.
As for the department directly under Mr. Salter's control, all administrative heads in the
public works department will be selected Cor their special fitness ,and ability. Other things be
. ing equal, red card members of the party will be given the preference.
It is purposed that immediate steps be taken to secure an adequate water supply for the
city of Everett as the firse preliminary to securing a publicly owned water and power plant, since
an abundai of Cleac, pure water is a matter of vital concern to all residents of Everett.
NO RED CARD APPLICANTS
FOR "THE SPOILS OF
OFFICE."
Long Trail of Non-Socialists Seek The
Elusive Job.
Yes, it was funny. Everybody said
it was funny.
A long line of patriotic job hunters
seeking eagerly the work that any
man can find that wants to work.
Sun-. If a man's out of a job it's his
own fault. At leant that is what the
pesky Socialists have always been
i told.
But you ought to have seen that |
' trail of hungry men —some, of them
appeared to be well fed, ;iii right, but
they were hungry for the eluilve jobs.
Or was it just the pay-roll?
Haw anybody 1660 Salter?
Everybody wanted to see Salter.
; No wonder that man Salter was elect
ed. He's the most popular man in Ev
erett, barring none. At least if one
were to judge by that long trail.
But, oontrary to vulgar misconcep
tions, it was not a Red line.
No, sir! In conformity with Social
ist, principles, not one Hingle lied card
man attempted tv-use his membership
in the party for persona) gain, it was
.1 peal case, so far as the Socialists
an- concerned, (if Job seeking the man
or no job.
Well does every Red Curd man
know thai it' lie has tin special fit
ness ami experience necessary to
qualify him for a given position, hla
comrades will freely discuss his mer
its, and where a posiiion becomes
vacant the Job will come to him
through the proper channels.
Efficiency First.
Efficiency first, then loyalty to our
great cause will lie considered. All
Socialist administrations have insisted
Commissioner Saiter Makes Statement
upon getting the best men obtainable
for any position to be filled.
It was a funny sight to see the man
who "always was a Socialist," but al
ways minus his Red Card, looking for
the pie counter.
And it was a splendid Bight to note
how the old war horses of fhe party,
those who have borne the burden of
expenses and organization work, kept
aloof from capitalism's tragic sport of
hunting the elusive Job. They let
Sailer alone; to select the best men
obtainable for the positions to be
filled, Socialists or not Socialists.
CHECKING SOCIAL UNREST.
Local Statesman (!) Would Leave
Cause and Suppress Symptoms.
They have been holding some very
interesting sessions of the commis
sion on industrial relations in Seattle.
And one of Everett's foremost citizens
was there giving testimony, advice,
and all that.
.!. Bruce Gibson—yes, It was none
Other —secretary-treasurer of the Sum
ner Iron Works was there, last Fri
day, Mr. (lilison appeared also as
president of the Federation of Employ
ers' Association of the Pacific Coast,
lie certainly is an authority on "in
dustrial relations," all right,
Air. (iiiismi was asked to "enlighten"
the commission on many subjects in
connection with labor matters, such
as unionism, welfare work, industrial
dissatisfaction, etc. And Mr. Gibson
enlightened them In a manner wholly
consistent with his position as ex
ploiter of labor.
Mr. Gibson's view of the causes of
unrest among the workers was very
amusing. If not instructive, It was so
child-like in its simplicity and inno
cence. Also child like, Mr. Gibson got
the cart before the horse.
unrest, according to his capitalist*
j class view, is not caused by the fact
thai the working-class are obliged to
do all the world's dangerous and dis
agreeable work at a mere subsistence
wane, while the owning-elass walk off
with the surplus value, the "profits,"
!and hold the power of life and death
over the wage'slave element, but be
cause of "agitators."
Isn't that naive?
For Mr. Gibson to try to.improve
| his condition day by day, demanding
more and more of the comforts and
luxuries of life for himself and family
is all right. It's good business. And
a good business man is never satisfied
with his lot, never knows when he is
well off, etc., ad naseum. His increas
ing lust for gold and power is not
urged on and fed by labor agitators
and Socialist orators and editors. He
surrounds himself with armed guards
and policemen ready to club or shoot
any who stand between the enterpris
ing business man and what he wants.
This is business.
Hut woe unto the working stiff who
dares aspire to the same comforts and
luxuries as his prominent-citizen boss
labors so strenuously to acquire, by
whatever means. Gibson and his class
would say "lawful means." But what's
the difference? Don't they always
make the means lawful? This is what
legislatures and courts are for; to
egallze what the bosses need in their
business. He who dares oppose them
is at once denounced as a demagogue
and dangerous agitator, undesirable
citizen, or worse.
So .Mr. J. Bruce Gibson, of Everett,
told the commission that what ailed
the cantakerous wage slaves was that
pesky agitators, with voice, pen and
cartoon, were "stirring up strife." He
does not regard individual initiative
(Continued on Page Four. I
DO IT NOW!
Ernest Untermann.
The Socialists of Europe have done
their duty. On the eve of the present
war, they protested vigorously against
it in France, in Austria, in Servia, in
Russia. The Socialists of Italy threat
ened to call a mass strike, if their
government should permit itself to be
dragged into this wholesale murder.
But the class-conscious workers of Eu
rope everywhere are still in the mi
nority and have not the power to offer
any successful resistance to the capi
talist governments.
As soon as it became evident that
the Socialists would rise up in a
mighty protest against this war all
over Europe, the rulers of all coun-
tries, while still claiming to be work
ing for peace, suppressed the one great
force that made more than any other
for world peace. Martial law was de
clared, the political privileges of the
people were taken away under the
rules of war, and thus the insincerity
of the capitalist governments stood re
vealed to all the world.
Having done all that was possible
under the circumstances, the Social
ists of Europe are now endeavoring to
gather what is left of their organiza
tions and to prepare for the coming
emergencies. „
All able-bodied men between the
ages of 18 and 45 are under arms. This
has taken more than half of the actual
Socialist party membership away from
I their home organizations. The remain-
I ing party members have no power to
| offer any effective resistance to their
home governments, especially since
! even the parliaments have been super
seded by generals in some countries.
On the other hand, the Socialists in
the armies, under martial law, con
fronted by hostile armies and sur
rounded by armed men of their own
nationalities who still follow the sug
gestions of the capitalist mind, will
not be able to thwart the designs of
the ruling class while the war lasts.
Socialists Can't Act in Concert to Stop
War.
Although more than a million Social
| ists face one another on both sides of
the contending forces, there is no im
mediate possibility for them to act in
concert. Nothing in the way of an
armed revolution against the powers
by a co-operation of Socialists across
the firing lines can be expected on an
effective scale. If any co-operation of
armed and class-conscious workers can
be established on .an international
scale during the war, it certainly will
be done, but the initiative for this
must come from the comrades who are
. (Continued on Page Three.)
DEBATE-Hear It
On next Friday evening the people of Bverett will have an op
portunity to sec a Socialist licked to a Prazzle. Be will be, a 1 least
figuraatively speaking, used to mop up the earth with. At Least thai
is what Dr. Lucas of Seattle says lie will do to Comrade DeQuer all
">f that and much more No one should miss this battle of intellect.
The question to be debated, boiled down, is ••Individualism vs. So
cialism." 'The ticketl are for sale and will cost only 15 cents. Any
one who misses this battle royal .will have something to regret for
the rest of bis or her life. Don't forget the date and the place, Fri
day, August 21, 8:00 p. m., at 1612 California.
No. IS9.
SALTER'S ELECTION WAS
WON WITHOUT ANY
COMPROMISE.
Socialists Stood fop Principle—Class
Lines Well Drawn.
The election of Comrade J. M. Sal
ter for commissioner of public works
was highly gratifying to the Social
ists of Everett. The more so in that
no compromise was made on any issue
of the campaign. Class lines and class
interests were kept well to the fore
throughout the campaign. "Cut out
that class struggle talk," said many
who were friendly toward the Social
ist candidates. But the foundation
principles of the movement were
clearly presented at each meeting, a
policy consistently carried out also in
these columns.
It is not intended to convey the im
pression that the whole of 3,171 votes
for Saiter was a real Socialist vote.
But we do believe that the 2,316 bal
lots cast for Bostrom represent real
Socialist sentiment and working-class
solidarity. It remains now to work
harder than ever to educate this great
body of men and women in the science
of Socialism, so that they may be pre
pared to become helpful co-workers in
the organization, and every effort pos
sible will be put forth to 'this end.
The Washington Socialist will be an
invaluable aid in this work if given
the proper {support. It is absolutely
necessary that it be read each and
every week by those who, in voting
the Socialist ticket, showed that they
earnestly desired to improve the con
dition of the city. Let us all work to
gether faithfully to this end, and we
shall carry Snohomish county for So
cialism.
EYES OF THE WORLD NOW
ON EVERETT.
Wherever people are interested in
the progress of Socialism, and this in
cludes all capitalist nations, interest
will be directed toward Everett and
its municipal affairs. The kept press
will, of course, announce from time to
time how "Socialism is a failure in
Everett." But no one but an imbecile
is fooled by such reports coming from
such a source. The capitalist press
has at last been found out. People
are coming more and more to under
stand that if they want to learn the
truth about anything, they must read
the Socialist press to get it.
No nation can bear wealth that is
not intelligent first. —Henry Ward
Jjeecher.